Focus

When Upsize this fall asked Minnesota small-business owners to submit their best business-building practices, four finalists rose to the top of an impressive roster of entrants: Bridgz Marketing Group, Cowgirl Tuff Co., IBuyOfficeSupply.com, and Intertech Inc.

The Upsize Growth Challenge, presented by Winthrop & Weinstine, is a contest created by Upsize magazine to match two winning business owners with the expert advice they need to reach their goals. From nominations, judges the sponsoring companies: Brian Kensicki and Deb Cochran of Winthrop & Weinstine and Bridget Manahan of Western Bank. Upsize covers their progress in this issue, covering workshop two that convened in September, and in the June/July issue, covering workshop one. Nominations for next year’s contest open in spring 2012.

The two winning CEOs of the Upsize 2011 Growth Challenge take different paths toward growth goals.

As companies emerge out of the great recession, if you look at their balance sheets and how much of their overall value is in IP-intellectual property is on the march. Even companies that have been more focused on bricks and mortar are now realizing that value.

Kelly Roden owns Roden Iron Inc., a steel erector company in Milaca, with her husband, Brian. Roden Iron was an Upsize Growth Challenge winner in 2008. Upsize Editor Beth Ewen called Roden in early 2011 for an update; an edited version of the conversation follows.

The Upsize Business Builder Awards, presented by Winthrop & Weinstine, is an annual contest to recognize the best business-building ideas among Minnesota-based companies with fewer than 100 employees. This fall four finalists, one in each of four categories, were nominations for the impact of their best practice on company performance, and the value of the best practice in helping other business owners.

‘Changes ahead for pre-tax employee benefits plans; how to get tax credits for being an angel; be careful when calling employees contractors; why employers must care about classification.

How small firms can manage credit risk; no more ‘peaks and valleys’: how to make sales more predictable; to-do list: top tips to increase dependable sales.

Kick squatters off your site with three methods; when bankcruptcy happens, beware; why to adopt a social networking policy; good records make all the difference for contractors; seven steps for creating a successful franchise; expert advice on crucial documents.

Do homework before joining ‘green’ revolution; what’s cloud computing? here’s a cheat sheet; how to gain R&D tax credits; five steps to getting started with online marketing.